Raul Midon

Tuesday, February 5

Only idiots hate it when their favorite musical discovery gets popular, especially when that artist does so by becoming more pop. Pop, of course, doesnt mean bad. Thankfully, fans of singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Raul Midon dont have to stress about that; hes been steeped in universal appeal since Jump Street. His second album, last falls World Within a World, continues that all-embracing aesthetic by combining jazz with soul, folk with Latin, all of which is sprinkled with a poppy bounce you never feel guiltyor cheatedfor enjoying. (He plays the mouth trumpet, for chrissakes!) Its a sonic landscape designed by his influences, from Miles Davis to Paul Simon, but which follows Midons own blueprints and is as accessible as it is compatible with human experience. Dude may be blind, but he sees. With Courtney Jones. KEVIN CAPP